Word Count

What program are you using?

One tip: if your computer is a Mac or runs Linux, I've found the console command wc is always dead-on with the nanowrimo site's count, so long as your file is plain text. I suspect they use wc on the back end to do the verification.

I have a mac, sorry, should have mentioned. Don't know anything about console commands, but will be using TextEdit to write in primarily.

Current Word Count - 0

Hi eastpath,

You got me scratching my nerdy head over word count in TextEdit and this afternoon I spent a few minutes writing an AppleScript to do word counting in TextPad :)

It seems to work okay and if you like I can email the script to you along with instructions on how to install it.

Dana

This interests me also! Might I be able to grab a copy of the script and instructions?

Sure thing! I'll email you the goods tonight when I'm near my mac :)

Sweet, it works nicely. Thanks!

If you use standard manuscript format, you get approximately 250 words per page. Then you just multiply by the number of pages. This is how publishers do their quick estimates.

Standard Manuscript format is double-spaced, 12-pt Courier, 8.5x11 with a one-inch margin all around. Indent each paragraph by 0.5 inches. No justification, widow or orphan control.

Wow, missed your reply there for awhile, sorry! Is TextPad the same as TextEdit? I'm curious, if it is so and works directly in the program that would be more handy than the one I did find but is a separate program... Thanks :)

- -
"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." ::Poe

FYI, I tried krandall's tip on my last year's nano novel. It came out to 400 pages and the word count estimation was 11,300 more than the actual word count.

Kim

Nope, typo -- I meant to type TextEdit, but for some reason my fingers want to type TextPad.

I *think* TextPad is an editor for Windows that I used to use, like, 10 years ago :P

I noticed the typo but for some reason we can't edit our posts in the regional forums.

Janell says the script works though :)

Did you try getting the keyboard shortcut to work?

I'd like to try it as well if you'd be willing to let me :)

I wish I had mad coding skillz! LOL

Sure thing!

I'll send you a PM on the site with my email address.

Alas, no. I tried finding some more information on how to apply that, but I got nothin'. That's all right, I'll see if I can find a way to get Quicksilver to make up for it (pretty much a newbie with that at the moment).

Sweet joy that I do not have this problem for I run a PC with Word.... heaven forbid I touch a mac and destroy it using my 'magic powers of instant death to macs' And no I don't mean the 12 lb sledgehammer though I assume it will work just as well as me touching a mac. haha

TextEdit is more equivalent to WordPad on Windows.

I don't see it as a problem; I think it's neat that almost application on OS X is scriptable.

And I refuse to believe these kiss-of-death-for-Macs claims of yours :P

Also, someone posted this in the technology forums:

http://www.supermagnus.com/mac/Word_Counter/

Which looks like an application that you can use to word count, get word frequencies, set goals and more.

I downloaded that before I got you to send me your script.

I like both :)

I like that yours tells me how many words I have left right away easily. I will be using both during November :D

I'm new here and just a little conjused as to how we do a daily (or more often) update of our word count. I understand how to do the final word count and validation but the daily one is confusing me.

It's under My NaNoWriMo > Edit Novel Info, and then there's the second one up at the very top right of every page that will apparently be working sometime in the near future.

I got that from the FAQ. I still don't know what's going on.

Do I enter the number in the first blank field? Do I need to post an excerpt of my novel? Do I need a title? DO a need a synopsis? How many of those fields do I need to fill before my word count will update? Because I typed in the number of words I have into the blank field labelled Word Count and nothing happened. My word count is still 0. What am I doing wrong?

I got that much from the FAQ. I still don't know what I'm doing.

What information do I need to enter (word count, novel excerpt, synopsis, title, cover) before my word count will update? Where on the page to I enter that information?

Sorry if this appears on the thread twice but my internet has been a (words not appropriate for the internet) pile of trouble.

Sorry to hear about your internet trouble, and I can definitely sympathise. The Nano site's sure been suffering too, more than it usually does at the start of every November, so that might be part of it. The bit where we submit our word count is the text field just above the grayed-out box, and I suppose if that isn't working still, then it might do what it should in a few days from now. Hope things work for you soon, anyway!

The word count field someone said is on the honour system until the end when the NANO word counters kick in.. So you just enter your count in and hit submit.

Yes. The word counter verifier is not enabled until November 25th.. That's when the word counting lemurs arrive from the depths of the rain forest to silt and count your words in the small of the night to confirm that yes, you are a winner.

In the meantime, you just enter a value into the box marked 'Word Count' and hit the Submit button at the bottom of your Edit My Novel Info page.

-Bets-

Meep. For some reason, the script appears to refuse to count anything over 8699. I thought at first it might just be a regular old discrepancy, and kept typing for another thousand words or so before running the script again, and it said the same thing.

you could also use a word processor. risking the ire of my friends, you could try the microsoft office 2007 trial version. it does a word count after doing the spell check thing.

Or if you want something that will work for a bit longer or on any computer without worrying about fees and such, try openoffice.org and get the latest version there. I'm using it for my writing, and it has a simple word count function. ALT>T>W brings up the word count and # of characters. (letters and numbers, not people in your plot)

found one other, http://www.wordcounttool.com/ doesn't give me the same count, but close enough.

Someone at the kick off meeting mentioned Jers Novel Writer for the Mac users.

I downloaded it (free) and absolutely love it. It has a stats box, that not only gives you your word count, but the page count too.

Also, it has popout fields that I have my outline, timeline, and names all written in. If I can't remember something, I just open up the appropriate box.

On the other side, is a notes bar, where you can put reminders to check on things relevant to that particular line. Very helpful for when I go back over it later.

lady bhugg

Oh how weird :(

I tested it with my 50K nano last year and it was working.

Sorry Janell, I'll take a look tonight and see if I can figure anything out.